KUALA LUMPUR: InvestKL is upbeat about achieving 10 multinational companies(MNCs) to set up operations in Greater Kuala Lumpur with a combined investment value of RM1 billion this year.
Chief executive officer Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli said the agency would provide an update of Malaysia's investment status for the first quarter (Q1) in the coming weeks.
"We expect to finalise more than two MNCs involved in insurance, cloud computing, enterprise solutions, big data, engineering and management. We will also announce the investment value for Q1," he said at a press conference after announcing InvestKL's performance update here yesterday.
Muhammad Azmi said the new MNCs secured in Q1 would offer more than 500 high-value jobs for the local, primarily in actuarial and data-engineering talent.
"We also collaborate with universities to build talent pipeline to match potential investors' requirements. We want investors to establish their presence in Malaysia with regional hub, high-value job skill and investment.
"We are confident that the economy will return to normalcy this year on the back of the government's ongoing vaccination effort. Business optimism is slowly coming back as discussions on agreements and contracts are underway," he added.
Muhammad Azmi said InvestKL also aimed to attract 100 of the world's leading MNCs and fast-growing companies to set up regional services and technology hubs in Malaysia by 2030.
The firm's next 10-year strategic plan, anchored on the National Investment Aspiration (NIA) blueprint, is focused on attracting high quality investments in technology and innovation-based activities to catalyse Malaysia's move towards a high-income economy.
The target came after InvestKL, which is under International Trade and Industry Ministry, completed its 2011-2020 target of attracting 100 MNCs to invest in Greater KL.
InvestKL achieved its target of attracting 100 corporations last October and ended last year by securing a total of 103 high growth companies in various industries in line with the nation's key economic growth areas.
With a total investment of RM15.8 billion, about 14,111 regional executive jobs were created throughout the 10-year period.
To date, some RM11.4 billion or 72 per cent of the committed investment have been realised.
A total of 10,411 or 74 per cent of the committed jobs have been filled, and 8,646 Malaysians are currently employed in these high value jobs.
InvestKL said Europe accounted for the largest investment with 51 companies, followed by Asia Pacific (28 companies) and United States (24 companies during the 10-year period.
He said the blueprint had three objectives namely to encourage MNCs to bring and share their best practices to revitalise the nation's innovation capacity and promote the advantages of investing in the five local economic corridors, and Asia with Greater KL as their strategic regional hub.
It also aspires to collaborate with and boost the growth of small and mid-size enterprises, local businesses and create high-value jobs.
"Our objectives are based on the NIA, with its focus on high-technology and innovation, and is aimed at striking a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability, in line with global environmental, social and governance benchmarks."
InvestKL also unveiled two key initiatives today namely Greater Kuala Lumpur Live Lab and Fit4Work.
The lab aims to attract companies to collaborate with local players to elevate the area's competitive advantages for quality, innovation-led and knowledge-intensive activities.
It also aims to create high value jobs, increase economic complexity, extend domestic linkages and improve inclusivity.
Fit4Work is an enhancing skillset graduates programme aims to increase the quality and competitiveness of young graduates, with potential job placements with MNCs, government-linked companies and major corporations within the services industry.